Sporting Witness

In the 1950s and 60s, the Australian swimmer, Dawn Fraser, became one of the most famous athletes in the world - winning the Olympic 100 metres three times in a row. But Fraser was almost as well known for her rebellious attitude and bad behaviour out of the pool. Kirsty Mcquire talks to Dawn Fraser and her coach, Harry Gallagher. The programme is a Sparklab Production.

Photo: Dawn Fraser. Credit: Getty Images Sport)

In April 1980, the young amputee Terry Fox began an attempt to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research and awareness. The "Marathon of Hope" covered 1000s of kilometres and captured the public imagination before Terry had to stop in tragic circumstances. Adrian Moorhead talks to Terry Fox's brother and a key member of the support team. The programme is a Sparklab Production.

(Photo: A memorial to Terry Fox in Canada. Credit: AP)

Shaul Ladany is a long-distance Israeli race-walker who set world records that stand to this day. But, even more remarkably, he survived a childhood in the Belsen concentration camp and then the terrorist attack on the Israeli team at the Munich Olympics in 1972.

Shaul Ladany talks to Will Yates.

Picture: Shaul Ladany in action at the 1972 Olympics (from his personal archive)

In 1998, a remote and impoverished region of Russia hosted the Chess Olympiad - one of the biggest events in the sport. The controversial president of Kalmykia, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, spent millions of dollars on the venue, which he named Chess City. British Grandmaster Nigel Short played at the Olympiad.

PICTURE: The plans for Chess City (BBC)

In 1992, the American sprinter Gail Devers was the surprise winner of the 100 metres at the Barcelona Olympic Games. Devers had only just recovered from a rare disease which nearly led to her feet being amputated. Simon Watts reports.

(Photo: Gail Devers (AllSport/Getty Images)

In 1955, the British driver Sir Stirling Moss, faced one of the biggest challenges of his career. He headed to Italy to race in the famous - and extremely dangerous - thousand mile race around the country known as the Mille Miglia. Sir Stirling's victory was one of the proudest moments of his career. In 2012, he discussed the race with David Prest. The programme is a Whistledown Production for BBC World Service.

(Photo: Sir Stirling Moss, right, and his navigator, Denis Jenkinson, left, celebrate their win covered in dirt. Credit: Getty Images)

In March 1999 the Baltimore Orioles became the first US Major League team to play in Cuba for more than 40 years. Fans in Cuba eagerly awaited the fixture, and the game was played in a carnival atmosphere, with Fidel Castro looking on from the crowds. It was hailed as a success of sporting diplomacy.

Cuban baseball star Enrique Diaz was in the national team that day. He tells Witness about the highlight of his sporting career.

(Photo: Cuban and American flags. Credit: Getty Images)

In March 1969, the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia faced off in a tense ice hockey match at the World Championships in Sweden. The Czechoslovak team were determined to get revenge for Moscow's invasion of their country to crush the Prague Spring reform movement. The Czechoslovaks won an unexpected victory sparking celebrations and then rioting in Prague. Ashley Byrne talks to the Czechoslovak player, Jan Havel. The programme is a Made-In-Manchester Production.

PHOTO: Czechoslovakia playing the Soviet Union in the 1960s (Getty Images).

In the 1980s, the American boxer, Gail Grandchamp, launched a long campaign for the right to take part in amateur competitions in the USA. Representing herself and raising money through part-time jobs, Gail was eventually successful in 1992 - blaising a trail for women boxers the world over. She talks to Rebecca Kesby.

PHOTO CREDIT: Gail Grandchamp in 2007 (The Berkshire Eagle)

In 2007, England's rugby team played Ireland at Croke Park in Dublin for the first time. Croke Park was the scene of a massacre by British troops in 1920 during the Irish Revolution and is regarded by nationalists as the home of traditional Irish sports. After a tense build-up, the game ended with an emphatic Irish win. Robert Nicholson talks to Ireland winger Shane Horgan and England back Matthew Tait. The programme is a Whistledown Production.

PHOTO: England and Ireland line up for the national anthems (Getty Images)